As the conflict between Russia and Georgia escalated this weekend, many international observers have been comparing South Ossetia to Kosovo and the Russian intervention with that of NATO in 1999.

We are all familiar with a certain dishonest rhetorical tactic: the use of an argument that is objectively ridiculous and that the person making it knows is ridiculous, but that nevertheless can sound impressive to the ears of someone who does not pause to think twice about it.

Janusz Bugajski, Senior Fellow at the influential Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington and expert on Kosovo and post-Sovier space, has stated that parallels should not be drawn between the current military action by Moscow in Georgia and the way the Kosovo crisis was resolved.

The Kosovo people are following closely the developments in the Arab world and the declarations of support that some of the Arab countries are giving to Serbia.